TheMHS Learning Network (pronounced “themes”, and an acronym for ‘The Mental Health Services Learning Network’) is an international learning network for improving mental health services in Australia and New Zealand. TheMHS Learning Network is a registered charity run by a volunteer Board.
TheMHS Learning Network events bring together people from across Australia and New Zealand to stimulate debates that challenge the boundaries of present knowledge and ideas about mental health care and mental health systems.
The Mental Health Service Awards of Australia and New Zealand recognise innovation, research excellence, best practice and lived experience leadership in mental health services. They also aim to reduce stigma by acknowledging responsible media reporting of mental health issues and encourage others to promote the importance of mental health and wellbeing.
Award winners are honoured at a prestigious ceremony each year, as part of TheMHS Annual Conference. They also receive a three- day conference registration, financial support to attend an ‘in person’ conference, and recognition on TheMHS website and media materials.
The Early Career Research Award was launched in 2015. Up to three are offered based on: Innovation (i.e., novel development related to Mental Health service delivery in Australia or New Zealand and/or practices well established in other countries that have not been tested in AU/NZ), best practice (i.e., translational research and investigation into best practices in Mental Health in AU/NZ and/or research that will improve current treatment, change practices, and has impact on mental health service delivery), and excellence (i.e., research that may underpin or contribute towards the understanding or advancement of mental health knowledge, with elements of outstanding quality and distinction).
Award winners are selected via a peer review process conducted by TheMHS Award Judging Panel and theMHS Awards Manager. The panel consists of five judges (per category) who cover a broad spectrum of mental health disciplines (e.g., mental health consumers, carers, academics, researchers, psychiatrists, program managers, health workers) across AU and NZ. For a TheMHS Award to be granted, an entry must satisfy each of the stated published criteria for the Award category.